Yesterday, on our last night in Cuenca, we decided to splurge on dinner and get two skewers of meat from the lady vendor near the market. She remembered us, as she gave us local prices instead of ¨gringo¨prices for our meat. Each of these two plates, 2 skewers with potatoes (OK, the one on the left had more potatoes, but I was hungry on the walk back to the room to take this picture) cost us only $1.25. She had sauces that we brushed the meat and potatoes with, and who needs forks anyway?
While I composed yesterday´s post, Phillip found a leather store, so we went back to it after dinner and I bought a leather hat. All I need is the whip off the wall at the ranch and I can do my Indianna Jones impersonation.... ¨Snakes? I hate snakes.
Now, to today´s trip to Riobamba. We were only delayed a few minutes twice as crews cleaned the mudslides off the roads, so we arrived here in Riobamba on time, at about 2:30 pm. It was a 6 hour bus ride, but it was a comfortable bus. Here it is at our midway point stop:
The views during the trip were, as usual in Ecuador, spectacular. The following pictures show the clouds in the distance, at a lower elevation than us, then as we descend down the mountain into the clouds.
Some of the things we passed include the ever-present cows tied at the side of the road (aka bovine ROW maintenance):
the indigenous Cañari people walking along the road:
and the statue of a saint looming over a town (name this saint, or who does this look like to you?)
Our room in Riobamba is a room. The window opens into the courtyard of the hotel. That´s a good thing, because we won´t get street noise like we did in our Cuenca room. The room is small, so the pictures aren´t good, but this picture shows our door! The outside looks roomier than the inside.
That´s it for today, safe arrival, settled in, ready to tackle Mount Chimborazo tomorrow.
Alright it seems Riobamba is up to date with the times,internet cafe for posting, yea!. I'm sure this is just me ,but some of the food you two are eating ,based on the way it looks ,would have me looking for one of the Colonels places. Wow clouds on the ground, you don't see that very often. Are we sure the statue was of a saint...looked like he had a mohawk of spikes? It seems to me that Ecuador is ahead of the times with their roadside lawn maintenance,free labor,and no bill for the city or country.USA are you following this blog?
ReplyDeleteSee Ya, Your Cuz.
I sure have been enjoying reading your blog when I can, so interesting! Pat you write like an author, maybe one day you can publish these travels :)
ReplyDeleteSafe travels until next time!!
Jamie
Yay for an uneventful trip! That is a long enough ride as is. The views with the clouds below you... amazing!!! That must have been incredible.
ReplyDeleteI'm totally loving the Canari people's cothing. I would absolutely wear one of those skirts, they're so pretty and colorful! I bet those are great wool socks, too. Love it!
No clue on the saint, but I'm not familiar with all that many. Saint Francis came to mind, but I'd expect an animal or something in his hand rather than a key. I give, who is it?